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WIN 2017

Spirit of Women magazine is a national publication presented to women by hospitals and their physicians. The magazine provides up-to-date, evidence-based healthcare information and promotes our hospitals as leaders in women's health excellence.

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19
SHUTTERSTOCK
W
hether you want
to brighten up
your complexion
or ward off wrinkles,
maintaining a
youthful glow can become more
challenging when you're not so
youthful anymore.
Beauty spa treatments like facials
and other skincare services can help.
But a medical spa, or "medispa,"
may have something more to offer
for faster and more definitive results.
"A medispa offers skincare services
that are affiliated with a physician's
practice," says Dr. Sean Bidic,
a board certified plastic surgeon
affiliated with Inspira Medical Center
Vineland in Vineland, N.J., who owns
the ASA Skincare medispa.
Medispa regulations vary by state.
In New Jersey, for example, only a
physician can provide some services,
such as laser hair removal and skin
resurfacing. But in other states, such
as Texas, the rules aren't as strict. In
any event, medispas are a growing
business: The American Academy of
Dermatology Association forecasts
that medical aesthetic procedures will
reach $4 billion globally in 2017.
MORE INTENSIVE THERAPIES
Because medispas involve physician
supervision, they typically offer a
wider range of skincare services
compared with a regular day
spa—from Botox, dermal fillers
and acid-based peels to laser hair
removal and resurfacing, photofacials
using light-based technology, and
permanent makeup, such as tattooing
for eyebrows and breast cancer
reconstruction.
The therapies at a medispa may
be stronger too. Take a chemical peel
to improve your skin's appearance,
for example. "Most non-medispas
won't use a fruit acid concentration
[in the chemical peel] over 5 percent.
But if someone wants more dramatic
results, we can go up to 20 percent,"
explains Dr. Bidic.
The medical personnel at medispas
can also evaluate skin concerns,
such as a changing mole, dark
pigmentation or rosacea, which is a
common skin disease.
PERSONALIZED TREATMENTS
In addition, medispas may offer their
own proprietary, pharmaceutical-
grade skincare regimen of products in
various concentrations, based on your
skin type. Depending on the season,
products in your skincare lineup may
be added or taken away as needed.
The strength of your therapy will be
fine-tuned too, based on your results.
"In our medispa, you will get
evaluated by an aesthetician [skincare
treatment specialist] every three to
six months," Dr. Bidic says.
THE PRICE OF BEAUTY
Aside from nipple tattooing for breast
cancer reconstruction, most medispa
services aren't covered by health
insurance, although many medispas
offer a free initial skincare evaluation.
After that, you can expect to pay
$250 to $500 to start, then $500
to $1,000 annually to maintain your
skincare regimen.
"Visiting a medispa is an investment
in your face, which is how you interact
with the world," says Dr. Bidic.
•
FINDING THE
RIGHT MEDISPA
All medispas are not
alike. Before making
your first appointment
or having a specific
treatment, do your
homework by asking a
few questions:
• Is this medispa supervised by a
physician? "Yes" is the answer you
want. Before any treatment, you should
have a face-to-face consultation
with a doctor, a nurse practitioner or
a physician assistant to make sure
you're an appropriate candidate for the
procedure and to verify your treatment
plan. According to the American Med
Spa Association, you should also make
sure that any procedure performed with
needles or a scalpel is done by someone
who is at least a registered nurse.
• What kind of physician supervises
the practice? You can find medispas
operated by a variety of physicians,
including dentists, primary care
physicians and even specialists such
as obstetrician/gynecologists or
pediatricians. "Look for a medispa
operated by a physician with skincare
training, such as a dermatologist, facial
plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon,"
advises Dr. Sean Bidic at Inspira Medical
Center Vineland in Vineland, N.J.
• Can you show me before/after
photos? When you're considering a
particular procedure, ask medispa
personnel if you can look at before and
after photos of their actual patients
who've had the treatment. "Patient
photos can show you that the medispa
has experience and evidence of the
therapies they're suggesting," Dr. Bidic
says. How can you be sure they're not
showing you stock photography? Just
ask: "Are these your patients?" he says.
A medispa offers skincare services that are affiliated
with a physician's practice.
"
"
~ Dr. Sean Bidic,
Inspira Medical Center Vineland